Warhead, particularly for fighting ships

ABSTRACT

A warhead, particularly for fighting ships, has an explosive charge detonated, after a time interval, determined by a delay member, following activation of a release element, such as an impact contact or an inertial contact, by one or more priming elements located at a point ensuring optimum compression and/or fragmentation effects. This point preferably is the axis of a cylindrical cross-section explosive charge. At least two electrodes, of electrically conductive wire, nets, foil, or the like are installed in the warhead at a position where they are short circuited by combustion, deflagration, or detonation, the location being one other than the point at which the priming elements are installed, and preferably one spaced radially from the axis of the cylindrical cross-section explosive. The electrodes are so associated with the priming elements that, when the electrodes are short-circuited, the priming elements are energized substantially instantaneously and without delay.

iiniteti States Patent new 1451 Jan. 29, 1974 WARHEAD, PARTICULARLY FORFIGHTING SHIPS Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt AssistantExaminer-J. V. Doramus Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John J. McGlew et a1.

[75] Inventor: Manfred Held, Kuhbach, Germany [73] Assignee= fiiflhm l9fltl2fi [57 ABSTRACT CesellschafTlVht Beschrankter HafmngMunich GermanyA warhead, particularly for fightmg sh ps, has an explosive chargedetonated, after a time interval, deter- Flled! 20, 1971 mined by adelay member, following activation of a [2]] AppL No: 190,980 releaseelement, such as an impact contact or an inertial contact, by one ormore priming elements located at a point ensuring optimum compressionand/or fragl Foreign Apphcatlo" y Data mentation effects. This pointpreferably is the axis of a Dec. 3, 1970 Germany P 20 59 563.5cylindrical cross-section explosive charge. At least two electrodes, ofelectrically conductive wire, nets, foil, [52] US. Cl. 102/56, 102/702 Ror the like are installed in the warhead at a position [51] Int. Cl.F42b 13/04 where they are short circuited by combustion, defla- [58]Field of Search 102/702 R, 56, 75, 78 gration, or detonation, thelocation being one other than the point at which the priming elementsare in- [56] References Cited stalled, and preferably one spacedradially from the UNITED STATES PATENTS axis of the cylindricalcross-section explosive. The 3 372 642 3/1968 Brothers 102/70 2 Relectrodes are so associated with the priming elements that when theelectrodes are short-circuited the 3 661086 5 1972 Th k.... 1 1:494:7185/1924 semi 102/75 Priming elements energized Substantially instanta-FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS eously and with delay 1,283,708 11/1968Germany 102/702 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1,145,522 3/1963 Germany102/702 9 1O 11 14 1 1 1 12:11 12b 12c 12d 1 a 1 1' I 1 l 1 i 1 1 1 r%a;;;a @Z:63,1 w, 9, e a 724 11 f fl D ("b We? q pgt-c /:1.,. ;;-11"1n qQ: f; 1-,, A IQQ ,1} k I J, lsvf yt \I, 64 I 1 WT? i.) fflk L 1 /l; A, 3x. ,6 I f 72 l\ \fiswhfi l W X \K t g} v x T a, T A X. imm r: \lt

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WARHEAD, PARTICULARLY FOR FIGHTING SHIPS FIELD OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to warheads, particularly for fighting ships, and,more particularly, to an improved warhead of this type in whichcombustion, deflagration, or even detonation setting in at undesiredpoints of the explosive charge are avoided in a simple manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART Usually the casing of a warhead is made aslight as possible in order to accommodate a maximum explosive charge inthe warhead within a given overall weight. As a rule, the explosivescomprise substances which are either not desensitized or are onlyslightly desensitized. Compared to highly desensitized explosives, theusually used substances are characterized by a substantially higherenergy content per unit of weight. This assures, at the target,compression and/or fragmentation effects, provided the explosion, or thesimultaneous explosion, of the explosive charge takes place at a certaintime from certain points. In the case of axially symmetrical charges,for example, the explosion takes place at a certain time from thecentral section of the axis of rotation.

This prerequisite is not met, however, in many cases, particularly inwarheads which are used against ships. In such case, the destructiveeffect of a warhead is greatest, as known, if it penetrates the shipwall and continues along its path some distance into the interior of theship before it detonates its explosive charge. The time-delay detonationis effected by a so-called delayed action fuse, where a certain timeinterval, determined by an interposed delay element, elapses from theresponse of its release element, such as an impact contact or aninertial contact or both, to the response of the associated primingelement or elements at the explosion charge points ensuring optimumcompression and/or fragmentation effects. If there are relatively solidstructures or fittings directly behind the wall to be pierced by thewarhead, as is the case particularly in warships, the desiredtime-delayed detonation of the explosive charge does not take place atthe desired points. The relatively lightweight warhead casing undergoessuch deformation at the solid structures or fittings, that the explosivecharge, which is sensitive to frictional heat and impact stresses,begins immediately to burn, defiagrate, or even detonate without delayand at undesired points,'due to the friction or due to piercing offrictionheated parts. Explosive effects of a low degree, or no explosiveeffects at all, are the negative results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to theproblem of providing a warhead of the above-mentioned type wherein theabove-described disadvantages of a com- I bustion, deflagration, or evendetonation setting in at undesired points of the explosive charge areavoided in a simple manner.

In accordance with the invention, this problem is solved in that two ormore electrodes, of electrically conductive wires, nets, foils, etc.,are so installed in the warhead, or associated with the primingelements, that they are short-circuited in a combustion, deflagration ordetonation of the explosive charge at another point than that ensuringthe optimum compression and/or fragmentation effects, and that thepriming elements react, without any time delay, to short circuiting ofthe electrodes.

In a warhead embodying the invention, it is thus ensured that, withsimple means, the entire, or substantially the entire, explosive chargeis detonated from the point or points which assure optimum compressionand/or fragmentation effects. In a. premature combustion, deflagration,or detonation at: any other less effective point of the explosivecharge, the reaction products formed, whose electrical conductivity farexceeds that of the starting materials, short-circuit the electrodes.This short-circuiting of the electrodes, which are distributed, in theembodiment according to the in vention, over the explosive charge atleast at points which are particularly susceptible to undesiredcombustion, deflagration, or detonations, leads to an immediate responseof the priming elements, due to the association of the electrodes withthe latter, and thus to an immediate detonation of the entire explosivecharge from detonation points which ensure the optimum compressionand/or fragmentation effects.

This positive situation has another advantage. As mentioned above,deformation of the warhead casing and the resulting combustions,deflagrations, or detonations, at an undesired point of the explosivecharge have no effect, or no marked effect, on the effectiveness of theexplosive charge in the warhead casing according to the invention, incontrast to known warheads. For this reason, the mass of the explosivecharge can be substantially increased in a warhead embodying theinvention at the expense of the wall thickness of the warhead casing andwith the same overall weight, in contrast to known warheads, and thisincreases the efficiency of a warhead embodying the invention.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved warheadparticularly for fighting ships.

Another object of the invention :is to provide such as warhead which isfree of the disadvantages of prior art warheads for fighting ships.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a warhead in whichthe mass of the explosive charge can be substantially increased at theexpense of the wall thickness of the warhead casing without increasingthe overall weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a warhead which hasan increased efficiency as compared to prior art warheads of the sametype.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference ismade to the following description of typical embodiments thereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the Drawing:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal or axial sectional view of one embodiment of awarhead in accordance with the invention; and

FIGS. 2a, 2b, 3 and 4 are schematic wiring diagrams illustratingdifferent embodiments of the ignition system associated with the warheadshown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a warheadll comprises substantially an axially symmetrical casing 4, forming apoint 5 at its forward end, a bottom wall 6 closing the open rear end ofcasing 4, and an explosive charge 7 of a highly energetic explosivewhich fills the space enclosed by warhead casing 4 and bottom wall 6. Inthe marginal region of the explosive charge 7 there are embedded, at acertain spacing from each other, two electrodes 9 and 10 which extendparallel to the surface 8 of the explosive charge. Electrodes 9 and 10,which are consist of electrically conductive wires, nets, foils,coatings, etc., are, like the electric priming elements arranged alongthe axis of rotation 11 of explosion charge 7, for example, primingpellets 12a 12d, and the contact hood 13 arranged on the casing point 5,parts of an electic priming system 14. The construction and the methodof operation will be described on the basis of the schematic wiringdiagram shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 3 and 4.

Referring to the schematic wiring diagram of FIG. 2a, two condensers 24,25, each connected in series with a respective charging resistance 22,23, are charged from terminals through a diode 21 and the twoparallel-connected charging resistances 22, 23. Closing of an impactcontact 26a, arranged in the contact hood 13 of FIG. '1, or closing ofan inertial contact 26b, connected in parallel with contact 26a, effectsdischarge of condenser 24 through an electrically energized primarypellet or igniter 27. In turn, this ignites a pyrotechnical delaycomposition 28 which, after a predetermined delay time, initiatesdetonation of a first detonator 29.-

As previously mentioned, electrodes 9 and 10, located in the marginalregion of explosive charge 7 are short-circuited in case of an undesiredcombustion, deflagration, or detonation in their vicinity and by theelectrically conductive reaction products produced. This short-circuithas the result that the other condenser is also discharged through apriming pellet 30 connected in series therewith. Priming pellet origniter 30 assures the immediate explosion of a second detonator 31, dueto the omission of any delay composition. Detonator 31, which is primedwithout delay responsive to short-circuiting .of electrodes 9 and 10, isin operative association with piezo-electric ignition generators 32a32d, as is also detonator 29 exploded, with delay, responsive to closingof impact contact 26a or intertial contact 26b. The ignition generators32a 32d are charged responsive to detonation of detonators 29, 31 by theresulting pressure shocks. The ignition pulses produced in this mannerare then supplied to the ignition elements arranged along the axis ofrotation 11 of explosive charge 7, as shown in FIG. 1, and which may be,for example, priming pellets 12a 12d. These priming pellets areelectrically connected to the piezoelectric priming generators 32a 32din a manner such that they detonate simultaneously explosive charge 7 ofwarhead 1 at the respective points, and which has the advantage ofproviding optimum compression effects,

fragmentation effects, or combined compression and fragmentationeffects.

If the short-circuit resistance of electrodes 9 and 10 is too high, itrepresents a hindrance for a rapid discharge of the series-connectedcondenser 25. In such a case, it is advisable, as shown in FIG. 2b, toconnect an electronic amplifier element in parallel with the electrodes9 and 10. For example, this electronic amplifier element can be abi-directional thyristor 33. Thyristor 33 assures a rapid discharge ofcondenser 25 through the associated priming pellet or igniter 30 as soonas the thyristor is triggered conductive by applying the correct gatingvoltage to its grid, this gating voltage being derived from a voltagedivider comprising two resistances 34 and 35.

In the ignition circuit schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, fourpriming condensers 43a 43d are connected in parallel and are chargedfrom terminals through a diode 41 and a charging resistance 42. Eachcondenser 43a 43d is connected in series with a respective electricpriming pellet or electric igniter 12a -l2d arranged along the axis ofrotation of 11 of warhead 1, as shown in FIG. 1. In the event of closureof an impact contact 44a, provided in hood 13 of the warhead shown inFIG. 1, or of an inertial contact 44b connected in parallel with contact440, an electric delay member 45 is activated. The delay member 45 ischarged from one of the aforementioned terminals 40 and a terminal 40a.After an adjustable time, delay member 45 transmits a pulse to athyristor 47 connected in parallel with priming condensers 43a 43d, thepulse being transmitted through a diode 46 and gating thyristor 47conductive. As a result, all four priming condensers 43 a 43d aredischarged simultaneously through the associated electric ignitors 12a12d in the explosive charge 7 of FIG. 1.

In the event of a short-circuiting of electrodes 9 and 10, arranged inthe marginal regions of explosive charge 7 of FIG. 1, by the products ofcombustion, deflagration, or detonation, a transistor 48 has its basebiased to make the transistor conductive by virtue of the base beingconnected to a voltage divider comprising resistances 49 and 50connected in series with electrodes 9 and 10. The transistor 48, thusrendered conductive, triggers thyristor 47 conductive, and thus effectsdischarge of the parallel-connected priming condensers 43a 43d withoutany delay, through the collector current of transistor 48 which isshunted, in the non-conductive condition of transistor 48, through aresistance 51. Priming condensers 43a 43d discharge simultaneouslythrough the respective electric igniters 12a 12d, in the same manner aspreviously men tioned.

One example of an electronic delay member of the type included in FIG. 3is illustrated schematically in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, fourpriming condensers 63a 63d are connected in parallel with each other,and each priming condenser is connected in series with a respectiveelectric priming pellet or igniter 12a 12d embedded in explosive charge7 of warhead 1, shown in FIG. 1. Condensers 63a 63d are charged fromterminals through a diode 61 and a charging resistance 62.

In the event of closing of an impact contact 64a, provided in hood 13 ofwarhead 1 of FIG. 1, or of an inertial contact 64b connected in parallelwith contact 64a, a first thyristor 65 is gated conductive. Thenecessary igniting voltage or gating voltage for thyristor 65 issupplied by an associated voltage divider comprising two seriesconnected resistances 66 and 67 whose junction point is connected tothyristor 65. When thyristor 65 is gated conductive, condenser 68 ischarged through a resistance 69. A resistance 70, connected in parallelwith condenser 68, limits the holding current of thyristor 65.

The delay member shown in FIG. 4 and' being charged from one of theaforementioned terminals 60,

and a terminal 60a also includes a pchannel field effect transistor 71.The so-called source electrode of transistor 71 is connected to avoltage divider comprising series connected resistances 72 and 73. Ifthe value of the charge in condenser 68 drops below the adjustedpotential less the gate cut-off voltage, this results in triggeringfield effect transistor 71 conductive through diode 74. As a result ofconductivity of transistor 71, a so-called drain current which, in thenon-conductive condition, is shunted through resistance 75, flows to thegate of a second thyristor 76 connected in parallel with primingcondensers 63a 63d and triggers thyristor 76 conductive. The delay timeelapsing from the closing of either of the contacts 64a or 6412 to thegating conductive of thyristor 76 with the resulting simultaneousdetonation of the explosive charge by the igniters 12a 12d is determinedprimarily by the time constant of the RC member comprising condenser 68and resis tance 69 connected in series with each other.

If, instead of contacts 64a or 64b closing, electrodes 9 and 10,embedded in the marginal region of the explosive charge 7 of FIG. 1, areshort-circuited, which occurs in the case of combustions, deflagrations,or detonations in the range of the explosive charge, the adjustedthreshold voltage of field effect transistor 71 is exceeded immediatelythrough resistances 77 and 78. This leads to a delay-free gatingconductive of thyristor 76 connected in parallel with priming condensers63a 63d, with the above-mentioned consequences. It should be pointedout, in this connection, that the transfer resistance of electrodes 9and 10 which should lead to the immediate release of the ignition systemcan be adjusted by selection of resistances 77 and 78. Also, it shouldbe noted that the casing 4 of the warhead, if made of electricallyconductive metal, may constitute one of the electrodes short-circuitedin the event of combustion, deflagration or detonation.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In a warhead, particularly for fighting ships, of the type having anexplosive charge detonated, after a time interval, determined by a delaymember, following activation of a release element, such as an impactcontact or an inertial contact forming part of an electric primingsystem, by at least one priming element located at a first zone assuringoptimum compression, fragmentation, or combined compression andfragmentation effects, and forming part of the electric priming system:the improvement comprising said electric priming system includingadditional release means in said warhead operatively associated witheach priming element controlled by each release element; said additionalrelease means comprising, in combination, at least two electricallyconductive electrodes installed in said warhead and extending throughoutthe length of the explosive charge parallel to and adjacent the outersurface thereof and spaced from said first zone so that they aresubjected only to short circuiting by the electrically conductiveproducts of combustion, deflagration and detonation of said explosivecharge; and means operatively associating said electrodes with eachpriming element and operable to energize each priming elementsubstantially instantaneously only responsive to such short-circuitingof said electrodes.

2. In a warhead, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which saidelectrodes comprise electrically conductive wires.

3. In a warhead, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which saidelectrodes comprise metal nets.

4. In a warhead, the improvement claimed in claim l, in which saidelectrodes comprise metal foils.

5. In a warhead, the improvement claimed in claim 11, in which saidelectrodes are distributed around the explosive charge.

6. In a warhead, the improvement claimed in claim 5, in which saidelectrodes are arranged at least at points which are particularlysusceptible to the products of undesired combustions, deflagrations anddetonations.

7. In a warhead, the improvement claimed in claim 6, in which saidelectrodes are embedded at least partly in said explosive charge.

8. In a warhead, the improvement claimed in claim I, in which saidwarhead includes a casing of electrically conductive metal forming oneof said electrodes. t =1

1. In a warhead, particularly for fighting ships, of the type having anexplosive charge detonated, after a time interval, determined by a delaymember, following activation of a release element, such as an impactcontact or an inertial contact forming part of an electric primingsystem, by at least one priming element located at a first zone assuringoptimum compression, fragmentation, or combined compression andfragmentation effects, and forming part of the electric priming system:the improvement comprising said electric priming system includingadditional release means in said warhead operatively associated witheach priming element controlled by each release element; said additionalrelease means comprising, in combination, at least two electricallyconductive electrodes installed in said warhead and extending throughoutthe length of the explosive charge parallel to and adjacent the outersurface thereof and spaced from said first zone so that they aresubjected only to short-circuiting by the electrically conductiveproducts of combustion, deflagration and detonation of said explosivecharge; and means operatively associating said electrodes with eachpriming element and operable to energize each priming elementsubstantially instantaneously only responsive to such short-circuitingof said electrodes.
 2. In a warhead, the improvement claimed in claim 1,in which said electrodes comprise electrically conductive wires.
 3. In awarhead, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said electrodescomprise metal nets.
 4. In a warhead, the improvement claimed in claim1, in which said electrodes comprise metal foils.
 5. In a warhead, theimprovement claimed in claim 1, in which said electrodes are distributedaround the explosive charge.
 6. In a warhead, the improvement claimed inclaim 5, in which said electrodes are arranged at least at points whichare particularly susceptible to the products of undesired combustions,deflagrations and detonations.
 7. In a warhead, the improvement claimedin claim 6, in which said electrodes are embedded at least partly insaid explosive charge.
 8. In a warhead, the improvement claimed in claim1, in which said warhead includes a casing of electrically conductivemetal forming one of said electrodes.